Impressive Images manager opens competing business

FORT COLLINS — Operations manager Scott Ackerman has left his position at Impressive Images Ltd. to start his own electronic prepress business, Synergy Graphics LLC.Ackerman said that as an independent electronic prepress provider, Synergy Graphics will work closely with several printers up and down the Front Range, whereas Impressive Images˜ close ties to Choice Printing Inc. of Fort Collins made other printers hesitant to work with the company.
Impressive Images is co-owned by Gary Sapp, owner and manager of Choice Printing, and Ackerman.
"Working with a variety of printers will allow us to move into other areas of electronic publishing and help printers develop their own capabilities," Ackerman said.
Sapp refused to comment on Ackerman˜s departure, as did the staff of Impressive Images. However, a letter sent to clients noted that "exciting changes" had occurred at the company, including the addition of new technology and staff.
The letter stated that Ackerman "resigned as operations manager of Impressive Images to start a competing business," and that he "remains a 20 percent shareholder in Impressive Images of Fort Collins and 25 percent shareholder in Impressive Images of Boulder."
Ackerman said that he and Sapp parted on friendly terms but admitted that the decision to remain co-owners for the time being creates "a weird situation."
According to the letter, Wayde Austad, operations manager of Impressive Images˜ Boulder location, has taken over operations management at the Fort Collins site.
Ackerman and his staff have set up shop on East Prospect Road in the Seven Lakes business park, where they plan to cater to a discerning clientele, Ackerman said.
"We want to position ourselves to serve those clients with more particular, sophisticated needs," he said. "I welcome demanding clients and difficult projects."